Another snowstorm expected to blanket large swaths of the United States early in the week threatens to disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel for millions of Americans heading home after the Nov. 27 holiday.
A wave of cold air will settle across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Central Plains, paving the way for snowstorms that could produce a messy mix of snow, sleet and rain, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
Forecasters say as much as 6 inches of snow could fall by Tuesday in some areas, creating challenges on the roads and in the air, days after another system dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest and caused thousands of flight cancellations over the weekend.
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, more than 560 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled, according to FlightAware.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported more than 8 inches of snowfall Sunday morning. Travelers with flights out of major Midwest airports, including Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City, could face significant delays and cancellations Sunday.
Slush and snow could freeze Sunday night, creating icy conditions on roadways, forecasters warned.
“Buckle up and be ready for travel disruptions over the holiday weekend. Crews may struggle at times to keep up with heavy snow on roads and highways across the Midwest and Great Lakes,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny. “This stormy and cold pattern is expected to continue through the first week of December.”
Here’s what you need to know heading into the week.
What states could see snowfall?
The fast-moving snowstorm is expected to bring snow, along with a mix of sleet, to Kansas, southern Nebraska and much of the East Coast, including Pennsylvania, New York, northern New Jersey and New England between Monday and Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.
Most areas forecast to receive 1 to 6 inches of snow, AccuWeather meteorologists predict, but precipitation will vary.
The National Weather Service said that much of the Central Plains, from central Kansas to the Mississippi Valley and to the lower Great Lakes region, will see light to moderate snow accumulation late Monday and into Tuesday.
Rain showers are expected for areas closer to the coast in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, while inland areas could see more of a wintry mix, the National Weather Service said.
Cold temperatures settle in
Much of the eastern United States will plunge into below-average temperatures beginning early in the week, bringing the coldest weather so far this season.
“Cold is forecast to dominate the weather pattern from the Plains to much of the East during the first 10 days of December,” AccuWeather senior long-range meteorologist Joe Lundberg said.
The freezing temperatures could stick around for a few weeks, creating conditions for more snow.
Lundberg said AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring at least two more potential storms in the first half of December.
